NI: Social and economic essay 1945-1969

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What were the main Social and Economic changes in Northern Ireland 1943-1969?

Essay plan: 

Intro: points to make: The period of 1943-1969 in NI was a time of great social and economic unrest. The concept of economic planning was also introduced in this period to help combat the decline of jobs in traditional industries such as linen and shipping. Tensions between Catholics and Protestants penetrated all aspect of life. The two PMs (Brookeborough and O'Neill) during this period had varying success in dealing with these problems faced. In 1945 the British began to instate the new Welfare State in NI as well as Britain. This concept of caring for citizens from the 'cradle to the grave' would have huge economic and social impact. Under the system free education, healthcare and social welfare was provided which significantly improved the lives of Catholics in particular who suffered discrimination at the hands of the Unionist government. The provisions of the welfare state in many cases benefitted Protestants  and this lead to increased tension between catholics and protestants and resulted in further social problems. 

P1. general paragraph on the welfare state

P2. health NHS, TB, the mater

P3. housing

P4. education.

P5. Social welfare.

P6. Economy under Brookeborough (pg333 and 334 and 336)

P7. Economy under O'Neill 1(pg337 and 338)

P8. Economy under O'Neill 2(pg337 and 338)

P9 Catholic grievances and civil rights marches lead to violence

Conclusion: Overall I think both governments had varying success in dealing with social and economic problems in this period and that a huge number of changes were brought into the country. While Brookebourough oversaw positive social changes in NI this was little to do with his own successes as this was the British Labor Party's idea and they took care of the bill. Both PMs failed to integrate the Catholic minority and many of their actions raised tensions. The Welfare state helped somewhat to appease the Catholic nationalists. I think that O'Neill's economic planning was a huge change as it greatly helped the economy while also failing to address the segregation which caused problems in everyday life and would eventually lead to enormous social unrest and much violence.

sample essay: (copy and paste into searchbar)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wgocgZ456xXJvEPxflKl9YEkLfK6gw2O/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5fY2-xdkTpjQRUfbM8_UF0EkVjPikkP/view

Past exam questions:

2020

During the period 1949-1969, how effectively did Northern Irish governments respond to the social and economic problems they faced?

2017

What were the main social and economic problems facing Northern Ireland, 1949‐1969,   and how effectively were they tackled?  

2016

During the period 1949-1969, how successful was the government of Northern Ireland in responding to problems posed by the economy and/or community relations?

2015

Would you agree that there was considerable social and economic change in Northern Ireland, 1949-1969, but that nothing changed politically?

2014

What were the main social and economic changes that took place in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993?

2008

How successful was the government of Northern Ireland in responding to social and economic problems, 1949-1969?

What were the Main Challenges facing France?

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What were the Main Challenges facing France?

Essay plan: What were the Main Challenges facing France, 1920-1945?

Intro: France faced many challenges during the inter-war years. After the first World War France suffered greatly. 1.3 million men were killed and 3 million were wounded. Even though the French were on the winning side of the war large areas of Northern France were destroyed - factories, towns, mines and farming land. The French now had to face the challenge of reconstruction - estimated at a cost of over 100 million francs. During the War inflation rose by over 400% and France owed a great deal of money. Over the next twenty years France would face major economic, political and foreign policy challenges and, despite some successes, for the most part the huge number of French governments in that time were unable to addressing these issues. 5

P1:Issues: 

• industrial unrest 

• the challenge of reconstruction in the war-torn areas.

• lack of manpower. 

• cost of reconstruction.

Government: the Bloc National Government.

Solutions: 

• Put down general strike of May 1920 ruthlessly (page 263). 

• Two million immigrant workers came from Italy, Spain, Belgium and Poland, By 1926 roads, factories and houses were repaired and agricultural land was made productive again

• paid for out of German reparations

(can be split into 2 paragraphs if essay is only up to 1939/40)

P2: Foreign Policy: In charge: Clemenceau. Punishing Germany with Treaty and isolating Germany. (page 270, key points from French Security and the peace treaties. Protecting France and Isolating Germany paragraphs)

P3: foreign policy challenge attempting to enforce all of the terms of the treaty of Versailles especially the reparations. Occupation of the Ruhr (page 270-271)

In charge: Poincare

Impact:

• led to relations with Britain and America declining.

• showed France was not strong enough to enforce the treaty 

• had cost the French money to send in troops. This led to an increase in taxation and a decline in the value of the Franc

P4: ISSUES: financial crisis and political instability

In charge: the Cartel des Gauches, 1926 the government of National Union took over, headed by Raymond Poincare

Actions: 

• continued to borrow to pay for reconstruction and so the debt got larger and the value of the franc declined.

• Over the next year six more Cartel des Gauches governments failed to address the financial crisis (political instability - page 262 and 264)

• Poincare increased taxation for everybody

Result: balanced the budget (saviour of the franc)

P5: Foreign Policy. Aristide Briand. Aim: Improved relations with Germany. Actions: Locarno Pact followed by the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928.

But French still felt insecure so built the Maginot line

Led into next paragraph: by this time France was now faced with the effects of the Great Depression and German reparations had been cancelled (another failed French policy) (page 264)

P6: Wall street crash: explain French economy protected by high tariffs, few US loans and Bank reserves but hit in 1931 and lasted longer than most places. French exports declined and huge balance of payments deficit.

Gov actions: 

• Governments cut the salaries of civil servants and the pensions of ex-soldiers

• introduced more protectionism

• took ownership or part ownership of companies such as Air France.

Result: resulted in many changes of Government and criticism of the Third Republic.

Led into next paragraph: In 1932 the Radicals, led by Herriot formed the government. They were unable to deal with the economic and financial crisis but now faced the threat French security faced from the rise of Hitler (page 265 and top of 266)

P7: Challenge: the right wing leagues. And riots against corruption due to the Stavisky affair.

(pages 266-268)

Gov actions: PM Chautemps attempted cover-up, refused to hold enquiry. Daladier new PM resigned due to riots. Left counter strike. Not a coup but reflect dissatisfaction with government.

P8:  In power: the popular front. 1936 PM Leon Blum

Challenge: sit-ins. Industrial action. workers expect left coalition to give them the factories.

Gov action: Matignon agreement. Workers gain and employers happy no revolution but gov borrow money to implement some of the initiatives, devalue franc and new delay them. (page 168-169)

P9: Foreign policy 1930s. Still insecure. returned to old, isolate Germany policy after Hitler come’s to power. 1934 Four Power Pact, In 1935 Pierre Laval signed the Roma Agreements, Stresa Front in 1935. Policy and stresa front collapse with Italy invade Abyssinia. Failures: Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland in 1936, Munich conference and declaration of war in 1939. Explain why these were failures ( pages 272-273)

P10: Challenge of the war.  

In gov: Paul Reynaud. Divisions in France, Military failure. Reynaud wants to keep fighting, resigns, Petain takes over. Armistice and occupation. (page 274-275)

P11: Vichy France. Collaborators (Petain and Laval). And resistance. De Gaulle and free France. Challenge of dealing with collaborators, De Gaulle ensures systematic punishment and Government control. (pages 275-278)

Conclusion:

Between 1920 and 1945 one of the major challenges France faced was the political instability. This prevented many improvements and reforms in French society which would have better prepared the country for the second World War. It also remained economically backward with small scale production and with agriculture staying inefficient leading to social unrest. (mention foreign policy). by 1939 all of the main challenges facing French society during the inter-war years still remained. 4

sample essay:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/015ek8gl5oje0ox/What%20were%20the%20Main%20Challenges%20facing%20France.docx?dl=0

Exam Questions

2018

What problems faced France in the years 1920‐1945, and to what extent were these problems overcome? 

2014

What were the fortunes of France during the period 1920-1945?

2012

What were the main challenges facing France, 1920-1945?

2009

Why was France unstable during the period, 1920-1940?

2007

What problems did the Third Republic of France encounter between 1920 and1940?